How To Deal With A Fraudulent Transaction On Your Westpac Credit Card
Follow these measures to avoid credit card fraud with your Westpac card
Despite all the Westpac security measures that are in place to protect your credit card, credit card fraud can still sometimes happen. Accepting this possibility is your first step towards making it more difficult for the fraudster to attack you because you will be acting defensively at all times.
How fraudulent transactions take place
There are many different types of credit card fraud, the simplest being that your credit card details are obtained by someone unauthorised to use your account, and this person then uses your card over the phone or on the Internet to make purchases in your name. For this type of fraudulent transaction to happen, the crook doesn’t even need to physically possess your card. As long as they know the card details and the security code on the reverse, they are away and shopping.
Your best defence against this is to keep a close eye on the transactions that appear on your card statement. Don’t assume that just because you still have a hold of your card that it’s not being used for fraudulent transactions. Check your statement and compare all transactions to your receipts. Although Westpac’s 24/7 Falcon fraud protection monitors all accounts, this is looking for unusual activity on your card, and the smart fraudster will try not to appear on the radar with odd or large purchases.
What happens if fraudulent transactions appear on your card?
If you believe credit card fraud to have occurred on your account, here’s the process:
- Contact Westpac as soon as possible
- Westpac will stop your card (and those of any additional cardholders) and proceed to issue new cards
- Westpac will also stop and replace any companion cards, such as exist with the Earth or Altitude credit card ranges
- You will be sent a ‘Transaction Investigation Request’ form, on which you must detail the list of fraudulent transactions
- You confirm and sign the form and return it to Westpac within 14 days
- Westpac completes the investigation and refunds the query transactions, if deemed to be genuinely fraudulent
After that, you will have to inform any payees of your new credit card details if you have regular payments set up on your credit card, and activate the Card Autopay feature on your new card, if applicable. Your replacement credit card(s) should arrive in 5 to 7 business days and these will have new PINs that you can change at any Westpac branch. Any fees that have been applied to your account due to the credit card fraud will be refunded in full.
Read the official terms and conditions
| Minimum Income | Minimum Age | 18 years of age | |
| Residency | Permanent Australian Resident | Credit Rating Requirement | Good |
| Min Credit Limit | $1,000 | Max Credit Limit | $30,000 |
| Annual Fee | $45 | Balance Transfer Fee | |
| Minimum Repayment | 2% | Interest Charged From | Purchase Date |
| Late Payment Fee | $9 | Over Limit Fee | $9 |
| Overseas Emergency Replacement | $0 | Overseas ATM Balance check | $0 |
| Overseas ATM Withdrawal | $2.50 | Foreign Currency Conversion Fee |
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